CHAPTER XIV
For the longest of times Haldora lived on an abandoned island. People would come by sometimes, but she would never make her presence be known, she would hide in the many caverns of white rock, this place had to offer. After a long stay on the island most of Haldora’s clothes wore thorn and she decided she needed no clothes since she was alone on this place. The climate and the sea water were warm though she always needed to take cover during the day, the sun was very strong and the island was not abundant on shade.
Haldora’s time was spent between her perfection of her abilities, specially the abilities Otr had passed on to her and the meditation she so required to hear news of the world through the mouths and minds of the spirits. They would tell her of their lives before death and Haldora would record every detail in her mind. She heard of wars between religions and of wars between countries. She would learn new words and languages. Haldora was learning and sometimes took pause to understand it. She was unable to understand the world of today without seeing the world of yesterday. At time she could almost see what Otr had meant, when spirits told their story and she could almost feel as they did, but it was still hard.
Haldora lay down, one day, and took her breaths to visit her spirit companions; she entered a different place, though. It was odd. She could feel energies in the air, but they were unlike she had ever felt. She could see a grand corridor of light with foggy, fuzzy images on its sides as walls. The people portrayed on these images were not all spirits. Haldora began to walk through this corridor and found both spirits and mortals standing in front of their image of choice, watching as the action unfolded. It was as if paintings were coming to life. Some of the observers gazed at her as she walked; Haldora was scared to address any of them. She stopped in front of one of the images and watched it for a while. Unbeknownst to her a figure approached.
- It’s the Hall of Dreams. -, this figure stated.
Haldora looked to her side and saw this creature of pure light. She could see it looked like her, but it had wings.
- I am a guide. -, it said, reading Haldora’s thoughts. – If you think of them they will come.
The figure disappeared and Haldora was left to herself on that long corridor. She took the guide’s advice. Her thoughts had been long in wondering whether or not she could see anyone she missed on these images. She first thought of her mentor. The many images moved as a block to show in front of her the images of her mentor’s dream. He dreamt of their beloved circle of stones, where they and many others used to pray to the gods and practice the old crafts. He dreamt he was praying alone, when the God of the Hunt came from the shadows of the woods and touched him. Haldora smiled as she saw this vision unveil. She was happy to find her mentor still in touch with the old arts, so many years had passed that she had thought he had been taken away by the new trends.
She next thought of Anna, who had said she would never forget her. Again the images moved as a block and in front of her she could see her friend, younger then what she had been before, dreaming of being a student in a collage, studying along side the men. She would sit in the library reading avidly and taking endless notes. Haldora laughed at her toughness. Anna had not changed at heart, though her priorities had changed. At this moment Haldora understood what Otr had tried to tell her. She would have to abandon time and concentrate on the today. She would always have the benefit of knowledge but she would have to weigh the present and not the past.
There was only one other person Haldora wanted to see. She dreaded to wish to see him, but her will was far greater then her dread. In the blink of an eye the image was in front of her. Her warrior was no longer a warrior. He was a student or a teacher. She could see him in a heated discussion over the truth of God and the fact of Science. Yet he discussed it with no one but himself. He was alone in his room speaking to his shelves full of books and no one else. Haldora came closer to the image and stretched her arm to feel his energy more intensely. She did not notice her fingers crossing the barrier of light and entering the action. He did. He turned and found her presence within his room. He dropped to his knees. Haldora still in somewhat of a shock, approached touching his hair. He spoke in almost incomprehensible words. He kissed her feet mumbling, Haldora felt a rush as his lips touched her skin. She took his head in her hands and looked him in the eyes smiling beneath her watered eyes. She bent down and kissed his lips. His expression was that of surprise. He rose and Haldora believed he understood who she was. She touched his face with her fingertips and in their original tongue told him her name and how she had missed him. His expression was now of fear. Her language was rough and almost unpronounceable. He took a step back and Haldora followed him. Unable to make herself understood she tried the many languages she understood to convey the same message. With each she was only succeeding in scaring him even more. Before she could arrive to the one language he might understand, she saw his figure disappear in front of her eyes as she felt herself being pulled back to the Hall of Dreams.
Blue eyes opened in confusion and fear…
